AccessibleReviewed for the 2025-2026 cycle

UW-River Falls acceptance rate and admissions profile

UW-River Falls is a public university in Wisconsin that admits most qualified applicants (around 82%), which puts it in the accessible range. A rate like this means it admits most qualified applicants; the bar is less about clearing a single cutoff and more about how your full profile compares to admitted students.

Use this page to see what UW-River Falls weighs, where it ranks among Wisconsin schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1180, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
82%
Accessible
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1180
of admitted students
Type
Public
Wisconsin
Selectivity in state
#13
of 23 in WI
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Will I get into UW-River Falls?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into UW-River Falls, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into UW-River Falls?

At UW-River Falls, your real chance depends on far more than the published 82% admit rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for UW-River Falls in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is UW-River Falls hard to get into?

UW-River Falls is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 82% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into UW-River Falls?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at UW-River Falls, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. UW-River Falls reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for UW-River Falls?

UW-River Falls does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1180. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at UW-River Falls.

Calculate your chances at UW-River Falls

What UW-River Falls looks for

What UW-River Falls weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

UW-River Falls signals that it values rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores above the rest of the file. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from UW-River Falls's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Considered
Recommendations
Considered
Interview
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
First-generation status
Considered
State residency
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at UW-River Falls

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at UW-River Falls
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200In the competitive admitted range
1100Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
Colleges for a 1200 SAT →Colleges for a 24 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How UW-River Falls compares in Wisconsin

UW-River Falls ranks #13 most selective of 23 schools in Wisconsin in our database.

Among the 23 Wisconsin schools we track, UW-River Falls ranks #13 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like University of Wisconsin (45%) and Mount Mary University (62%) sit nearby, which makes Wisconsin a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.

University of Wisconsin
45%acceptance · WI
Mount Mary University
62%acceptance · WI
Beloit College
63%acceptance · WI
Lawrence University
64%acceptance · WI
Carroll University
67%acceptance · WI
Viterbo University
72%acceptance · WI
Parkside University (WI)
75%acceptance · WI
UW-La Crosse
76%acceptance · WI
See all Wisconsin schools →

Similar to UW-River Falls

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

If UW-River Falls is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: Arkansas State University, Kansas State University, and Montana State University. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Arkansas State University
82%acceptance · AR
Kansas State University
82%acceptance · KS
Montana State University
82%acceptance · MT
Morgan State University
82%acceptance · MD
Southern Utah University
82%acceptance · UT
Towson University
82%acceptance · MD

Frequently asked questions

What does UW-River Falls value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, UW-River Falls weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does UW-River Falls favor in-state applicants?

As a public university, UW-River Falls generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.

How can I improve my chances at UW-River Falls?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at UW-River Falls specifically.

Is UW-River Falls test-optional?

Test-optional policies change year to year, so confirm UW-River Falls's current policy on its official admissions site. If you do submit scores, the admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1180; if you do not, more weight falls on your GPA, course rigor, and essays.

How does residency affect admission to UW-River Falls?

As a public university, UW-River Falls typically admits in-state students at a higher rate, and tuition differs sharply by residency. Select your home state in the calculator to fold the in-state effect into your estimate.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.